Online community for those with cerebral palsy!

Menu

Monthly Archives: October 2019

Shared experiences captivated the discussion Wednesday, October 23rd, 2019 during the live cerebral palsy Twitter chat #CPChatNow. I am chat co-host Zachary Fenell here to tell you more. The best way I know how too. Your weekly recap!

Early in the night I mentioned feeling a bit under the weather due to a cold. This led long-time chat regular Blemi to ask a question.

Blemi wondered whether cold medicine affects my spasticity. I answered no, but noted I must take non-drowsy medications. Drowsy cold medicines do not mix well with my baclofen.

The usual routine applies. Leave your response in the “Comments” section. First though, let us continue recapping the October 23rd Twitter chat.

Devin fueled the conversation asking participants to share situations they avoid because of CP. Responses truly varied. Our own “Positivity Princess” Linds said riding a bike.

Both Heather and Blemi offered different answers. Heather said she avoids situations involving standing and mingling and eating or drinking simultaneously. Surely a trying balancing act when factoring in CP!

Concurrently Blemi raised issues surrounding parking and handrails. Specifically she said she avoids situations where she doesn’t know if there will be parking off of the street. The same avoidance applies to entering homes where she doesn’t know if people have railings.

Reply below to answer. Then set a calendar reminder for 8pm ET every Wednesday. That way you may join the conversation LIVE. Share your own experiences. Enjoy the community. Simply click here at 8pm ET and include “#CPChatNow” in your tweets.

#CPChatNow was active as always last week. Members discussed things such as what makes someone courageous, how their CP can help them avoid hazards, and the difficulty of asking for help. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.

First, Zach asked what it is that makes someone courageous. I shared my opinion that courage is doing something that is needed even if you are scared.

Next, Zach talked about avoiding tripping at a family clam bake due to being extra conscious of a misplaced step.

Next, talked turned to a difficult issue that many people with Cerebral Palsy and disabilities in general face, asking for help. I shared I sometimes don’t ask for help due to the many things I am unable to do and wanting to maximize the things I can do. Zach shared a similar story at the clam bake.

Hannah and Zach tweeted about the feelings surrounding asking for help.

Hannah and Zach also tweeted further about the fear of being a bother:

I want to go back to Zach’s tweet about the step and the clam bake. I know I have been in situations where my CP spidey sense saved me from a sticky situation that people without CP experienced. This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: How has CP helped you avoid bad situations able bodied people experienced? Please share your answers in the comments and join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on #CPChatNow on Twitter.

Early in the evening I posed a question. Originally I saw the question asked in a cerebral palsy related Facebook group I belong to.

Within said Facebook group, a mother wanted input on what others consider the best ramp material. Both chat regular Seth and my co-host Devin Axtman deemed metal the best material for a personal ramp. Information I relayed back to that Facebook group.

Elsewhere in our chat Devin raised a thought provoking question.

Saturday, October 5th, 2019 marked World CP Day 2019. The recently passed date left Devin asking if we find such days helpful or if all the awareness (World CP Day, CP Awareness Month, National CP Awareness Day) blends in together. Long-time chat regular Blemi said she thinks the occasion is just another way to spread “inspirational porn.” Devin agreed, saying a lot of World CP Day comes across as cliché or just checking a box. I added my thoughts too.

Personally, I believe there remains no such thing as too much awareness. However, I indicated awareness should possess tangible substance. Otherwise you simply end up with awareness as a buzzword. Devin agreed, hitting what I consider an essential point. “Make it (awareness) something people can do something about.”

What do you think? Answer as the week’s extend-the-conversation question, “Do you find things like World CP Day helpful?” Reply in the “Comments” section.

Another intriguing topic arose October 9th when I asked participants about their exercise habits.

Specifically I wondered how often people exercised. Jeni showed impressive frequency, explaining she exercises five or six days a week, about 90 minutes at a time. Her exercise regimen has led her to experience less spasms. Others merely find living life with cerebral palsy enough of a workout.

Blemi explained she never exercises because she lacks the energy. Daily life and working full-time proves her workout.

Besides a physical workout, exercise that mind by remembering to answer the week’s extend-the-conversation question. “Do you find things like World CP Day helpful?”

This past week in #CPChatNow was jumping as always. Members discussed things like the perceptions of social media, the perceptions of parents with disabilities and CP, and what the news and society at large gets wrong about CP. This is #CPChatNow Co-Host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.

#CPChatNow co-host, Zachary Fenell, wrote a blog post, defending social media while talking about the positive impact of #CPChatNow.

Next, the topic of the chat largely turned to society’s perceptions of Cerebral Palsy and what the members wished was different. Zach asked about a common topic in the disability community, news coverage of disability and more specifically CP.

Next, Zach tweeted that he wished news stories focused on what the individual with CP thinks rather than bystanders. Zach feels more people blogging and sharing their experiences will be beneficial.

Zach and I talked about how more direct quotes from the person would be more authentic.

Finally, talk turned to an article Zach shared about an Irish mum with CP using a wheelchair:

I pointed out how it was interesting that the barriers she experienced were attitudinal barriers from the healthcare professionals:

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What are some attitudinal barriers you have experienced in your life?

Thanks for reading! Join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on Twitter at #CPChatNow.